| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. | 1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle. The images you carry are loaded, as a burden for the weary animal. |
| 2They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. | 2The gods cower; they crouch together; they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity." |
| 3Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: | 3Listen to Me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth. |
| 4And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. | 4I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you." |
| 5To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? | 5Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to? Who will you measure Me with, so that we should be like each other? |
| 6They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. | 6Those who pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales-- they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god. Then they kneel and bow down to it. |
| 7They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. | 7They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands; it does not budge from its place. They cry out to it but it doesn't answer; it saves no one from his trouble." |
| 8Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. | 8Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors! |
| 9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, | 9Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me. |
| 10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: | 10I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will. |
| 11Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. | 11I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it. |
| 12Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: | 12Listen to me, you hardhearted, far removed from justice: |
| 13I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. | 13I am bringing My justice near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not delay. I will put salvation in Zion, My splendor in Israel." |
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